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Ben vamă da
AT METAL B 73M
(2).
H.M. Principal Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Ganges Maru direct for Marseilles.
The British Government of
264
1. 13
. . .
Hongkong refused to permit the transhipment of the Oil in Hongkong
on the grounds that its destination was Switzerland. As a consequence, the shipment at Shanghai and the transhipment at Hongkong had to be cancelled and the S.S. Ganges Maru had to change her voyage and make a special call at the Port of Shanhai to pick up the Oil.
The most serious and vital consequence is that as a result of this action of the British Government of Hongkong, the Swiss buyer declines to take delivery of the 011 and claims that shipment should have been made in November, otherwise contract is void. The S.S.Ganges Maru,
as a matter of fact, sailed from Shanghai December 3rd or 4th. The Credit, as a further result, has been cancelled and the oil will arrive in a few days at Marseilles with no one to take delivery of it. A most serious los which may be as much as £30,000 or more may result. The British Consul General in Shanghai has cabled to the Foreign Office London, substance of the above facts as to shipment, whilst his Colleague the French Consul General, in charge of Swiss interests in Shanghai has cabled in the same tenor to the Swiss Government.
From the facts, as above developed, it seems clear that the British Government of Hongkong has acted in direct violation of the authority of His Majesty's Government and are, therefore, responsible to us to make good any loss that may occur. It is inconceivable to
us that the Government of a Crown Colony can set aside the direct sanction of H. M.Government. In this case they have done so and are surely responsible, in law, for the result of their actions.
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4419.